App.net Raises $2.5 Million From Andreessen Horowitz

App.net is an ad-free social networking and microblogging service that allows users to write messages that are up to 256 characters. App.net has raised $2.5 million in funding from Andreessen Horowitz. Andreessen Horowitz also previously invested in App.net’s previous iteration called PicPlz. App.net raised over $500,000 through crowd-funding and CEO Dalton Caldwell said that Andreessen Horowitz was supportive “during every phase of the company,” according to TechCrunch.

“Why did we choose to raise this money? We are just starting to realize the potential of what App.net can be, and we want our developer and member community to be confident that App.net is on strong financial ground and here to stay. This financing gives us an additional cushion and resources to manage and support the infrastructure and staff that run App.net. Our team, including our investors, are 100% committed to App.net’s services-based business model where our customers are our users, not advertisers,” said Caldwell in a blog post.

App.net has plans to create a real-time social platform that other apps can build on top of. Several apps have been built on top of App.net so far including Whisper and Felix.